🏈 Nebraska High School Football Playoffs are here. Follow the action →

Hurrdat Sports
Hail Varsity
Mavericks All Access
Bluejay Breakdown
NebPreps
NebPros

2026 Class D1 Football Playoffs

16 teams · 8-man · 7 district champions + 9 wild cards · Seeded 1–16 statewide by wild card points · Higher seed hosts through the semifinals · Championship at UNL - Memorial Stadium

7
District champions
Each district champion earns an automatic bid.
9
Wild cards
Remaining spots filled by wild card points to reach 16 teams.
1–16
Seeding
All 16 seeded statewide by wild card points, champions included.
First Round
Fri, Oct 30Next
Quarterfinals
Fri, Nov 6
Semifinals
Fri, Nov 13
Championship
Mon, Nov 23

Bracket

First Round · Oct 30
Quarterfinals · Nov 6
Semifinals · Nov 13
Championship · Nov 23
Fri, Oct 30 · 5:00 PM · at Johnson-Brock
1Johnson-BrockD1-1 champ · 9-0 · 86.2
16AmherstWC · 5-4 · 55.9
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Exeter-Milligan-Friend
8Exeter-Milligan-FriendWC · 8-1 · 58.3
9Elmwood-MurdockWC · 6-3 · 71.7
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Crofton
5CroftonD1-5 champ · 8-1 · 74.3
12Elkhorn ValleyWC · 6-3 · 57.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Ravenna
4RavennaWC · 8-1 · 76.6
13Cross CountyD1-3 champ · 6-3 · 46.3
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Stanton
3StantonD1-4 champ · 9-0 · 76.3
14AlmaD1-7 champ · 6-3 · 58.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 3:00 PM · at Hartington-Newcastle
6Hartington-NewcastleWC · 8-1 · 82.4
11CenturaWC · 7-2 · 58.0
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Sutton
7SuttonD1-2 champ · 7-2 · 67.7
10Wisner-PilgerWC · 7-2 · 65.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Sandy Creek
2Sandy CreekD1-6 champ · 8-1 · 87.3
15PoncaWC · 5-4 · 46.1
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 13 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 13 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Mon, Nov 23 · 2:45 PM · UNL - Memorial Stadium
TBD
TBD
Round
First RoundFri, Oct 30
Fri, Oct 30 · 5:00 PM · at Johnson-Brock
1Johnson-BrockD1-1 champ · 9-0 · 86.2
16AmherstWC · 5-4 · 55.9
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Exeter-Milligan-Friend
8Exeter-Milligan-FriendWC · 8-1 · 58.3
9Elmwood-MurdockWC · 6-3 · 71.7
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Crofton
5CroftonD1-5 champ · 8-1 · 74.3
12Elkhorn ValleyWC · 6-3 · 57.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 7:00 PM · at Ravenna
4RavennaWC · 8-1 · 76.6
13Cross CountyD1-3 champ · 6-3 · 46.3
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Stanton
3StantonD1-4 champ · 9-0 · 76.3
14AlmaD1-7 champ · 6-3 · 58.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 3:00 PM · at Hartington-Newcastle
6Hartington-NewcastleWC · 8-1 · 82.4
11CenturaWC · 7-2 · 58.0
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Sutton
7SuttonD1-2 champ · 7-2 · 67.7
10Wisner-PilgerWC · 7-2 · 65.8
Fri, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM · at Sandy Creek
2Sandy CreekD1-6 champ · 8-1 · 87.3
15PoncaWC · 5-4 · 46.1
QuarterfinalsFri, Nov 6
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 6 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
SemifinalsFri, Nov 13
Fri, Nov 13 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
Fri, Nov 13 · Higher seed hosts
TBD
TBD
ChampionshipMon, Nov 23
Mon, Nov 23 · 2:45 PM · UNL - Memorial Stadium
TBD
TBD

Playoff Field

2026 Class D1 playoff field
Seed Team Record Rating WC PointsWC Qualified Playoff Status
1
Johnson-Brock Automatic · 9-0 · 86.2
9-0 86.2 46.0
AutomaticD1-1 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
2
Sandy Creek Automatic · 8-1 · 87.3
8-1 87.3 45.8
AutomaticD1-6 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
3
Stanton Automatic · 9-0 · 76.3
9-0 76.3 45.0
AutomaticD1-4 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
4
Ravenna Wild card · 8-1 · 76.6
8-1 76.6 44.4
Wild cardD1-6 · 44.4 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
5
Crofton Automatic · 8-1 · 74.3
8-1 74.3 44.4
AutomaticD1-5 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
6
Hartington-Newcastle Wild card · 8-1 · 82.4
8-1 82.4 44.1
Wild cardD1-5 · 44.1 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
7
Sutton Automatic · 7-2 · 67.7
7-2 67.7 43.2
AutomaticD1-2 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
8
Exeter-Milligan-Friend Wild card · 8-1 · 58.3
8-1 58.3 43.1
Wild cardD1-2 · 43.1 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
9
Elmwood-Murdock Wild card · 6-3 · 71.7
6-3 71.7 41.7
Wild cardD1-2 · 41.7 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
10
Wisner-Pilger Wild card · 7-2 · 65.8
7-2 65.8 41.2
Wild cardD1-4 · 41.2 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
11
Centura Wild card · 7-2 · 58.0
7-2 58.0 41.2
Wild cardD1-6 · 41.2 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
12
Elkhorn Valley Wild card · 6-3 · 57.8
6-3 57.8 41.0
Wild cardD1-5 · 41.0 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
13
Cross County Automatic · 6-3 · 46.3
6-3 46.3 41.0
AutomaticD1-3 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
14
Alma Automatic · 6-3 · 58.8
6-3 58.8 40.7
AutomaticD1-7 champion
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
15
Ponca Wild card · 5-4 · 46.1
5-4 46.1 39.8
Wild cardD1-4 · 39.8 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive
16
Amherst Wild card · 5-4 · 55.9
5-4 55.9 39.8
Wild cardD1-7 · 39.8 pts
 Plays first round · Fri, Oct 30Alive

Just Missed

The next 4 teams by wild card points. Last wild card Amherst finished with 39.8 wild card points.

Pender
D1-4 · 5-4 · 57.8 rating
39.8 WC pts · 0.0 behind
Nebraska Christian
D1-3 · 6-3 · 49.1 rating
39.7 WC pts · 0.1 behind
Elm Creek
D1-7 · 5-4 · 53.3 rating
39.4 WC pts · 0.3 behind
Thayer Central
D1-1 · 5-4 · 46.8 rating
39.1 WC pts · 0.7 behind

Districts, bids, seeds, wild card points, sites and scores from NSAA. Ratings are NebPreps computer ratings. Records are regular season only. Updated Oct 28, 2026.